Zhiming Yuan delivers a sermon reflecting on China's tumultuous history, from the rule of Sun Yatsen to Mao Zedong, highlighting the nation's shift from one leader to another and the consequences of placing faith in mortal leaders. The sermon emphasizes the spiritual void in seeking fulfillment in counterfeit gods, the roots of China's problems being spiritual rather than economic, and the struggle to establish true democracy rooted in faith in God. Despite the challenges, there is hope as the light of God continues to shine in China through the growth of Christianity and the presence of boundless love, forgiveness, and repentance.

E1) As China was emerging from a prolonged bondage during the second half of the 20th century, she fell from the hands of Sun Yatsen, a God-fearing patriot, into the hands of Chiang Kai-shek, a Nationalist soldier-politician, to Mao Zedong, a Communist revolutionary. E2) The next fifty years seemed like a quick replay of China's tumultuous 2500 year history. E3) The Communists took control of Mainland China in 1949, and put to death one million seventy thousand Nationalists. The next year, half a million people were executed as counter-revolutionaries E4) In 1954 the Secretary of the Bureau of Northeast China Gao Gang and the Minister of the Central Party Committee Rao Shushi were purged from the party. E5) Two years later democratic leaders Zhang Bojun and Luo Longji were labeled right-wing counter-revolutionaries and punished along with five hundred fifty thousand sympathizers. E6) In 1959, National Defense Minister Peng Dehuai, Chief of Staff of the People's Liberation Army Huang Kecheng and Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Wentian were declared 'Right-wing anti-party opportunists' and brought down. E7) In 1966, Beijing Mayor Peng Zhen, Propaganda Minister Lu Dingyi, Chief of General Staff Luo Ruiqing were brought down in disgrace. E8) Shortly thereafter, Deng Xiaoping, He Long, Chen Yi, and many other Communist Party pioneers were toppled. E9) In November 1968, Liu Shaoqi was E9) Cont.E6) convicted of treason and imprisoned. This former Chairman of the People's Republic of China soon passed away, his name forever disgraced. E10) In the application form to have his father cremated, Liu's son wrote 'unemployed' for his father's occupation. E11) Less than two years later while attempting to flee China, Mao's designated successor, Lin Biao, died in a plane crash in Mongolia. E12) And so Mao Zedong became China's undisputed god. E13) (Red Guards: 'Long lives Chairman Mao…Lin Biao: …long lives, long lives.Zhou Enlai: Long lives our great leader, Chairman Mao…) E14) The spiritual poverty of one billion people and their frail trust in atheism was exposed before this man. E15) Eight times in 1966 Mao stood in the citadel of Tiananmen to rally millions of loyal Red Guards. E16) These teary-eyed students could barely see Mao far off in the distance--but had no doubt this mere mortal was their savior, the god who would deliver them from their misery. E17) (News Brief) Chairman Mao, O, Chairman Mao. You came to us twice today with such great countenance and vitality. You are the greatest blessing to China, and to people engaged in revolutions worldwide. E18) However, just two years later in 1968, this god of China ordered his fanatic worshippers, fifty-four million students, to go Cont.E18)E18) to the countryside to be 're-educated' by the peasants, producing a generation of sorrow and despair. E19) By 1976 the Cultural Revolution ran out of steam. But by then many lives had been lost and the economy was near collapse. Yet when Mao died in September, people grieved over his corpse E20) as if the world had ended. E21) Clearly there is a void in a person's heart that only God can fill. But the Chinese sought fulfillment in a counterfeit--worshipping a mere man--a sinner like themselves. E22) In the past the Chinese worshipped their emperors. Now they worship modern tyrants. E23) Bo Yang Interview---------------------------------------------Chinese culture is political, based on revering the emperor as a 'god.' It is also a bureaucratic culture of flattery, submission, and slavery; a culture where man 'creates' god--and that man is the emperor.------------------------------------------------------------- E24) In 1978 Deng Xiaoping initiated economic reform in China succeeding where the Westernization Movement of 1861 failed. E25) When China's youth began to worship him like a god, they were once again setting themselves up for disappointment. E26) In the dawn of June 4, 1989, tanks rumbled into Tiananmen Square crushing the dreams and shattering the illusions of the youth. E27) These students, who once worshipped Deng, were again deceived and disappointed. E28) Tiananmen, the Gate of Heavenly Peace, did not bring the peace they expected. E29) Three years later, Deng's tour of Southern China started a 'get rich' fad among the people, creating an economic boom that surprised the world. Pragmatism not communism ruled China's marketplace. Even the West thought China's problems would be solved by their sustained annual growth rate of ten percent. E30) However, the root cause of China's maladies is not poverty--but the endless infighting, vengeance and tyranny. E31) Historically, each dynasty saw prosperity in the second and third generations. The fourth and fifth generations routinely brought unrest and upheaval. Will this historical pattern currently repeat itself? Only time will tell. E32) China's root problem is spiritual and cannot be solved by an economic boom. It is a festering wound that has brought forth an abundance of social ills. E33) Westernization only addressed the symptoms. True democracy has proven difficult for the Chinese. E34) In Taiwan, "Chinese democracy" has turned a proven political system into a brawl between factions. E35) Chinese dissidents continued their infighting even after they arrived in the West, the birthplace of democracy. E36) It's been difficult for democracy to take root in China because the Chinese believe democracy is a product of better economic and political systems--not born out of a firmly grounded faith in God. E37) In 1998 President Clinton visited Beijing University, the birthplace of Chinese democracy. In the auditorium an indignant student asked Clinton, "when President Jiang Zemin visited Harvard he was confronted by demonstrators and protesters. How would you feel if demonstrations and protests were permitted here today?" Clinton surprised the student by answering, "I would meet the demonstrators and listen to their concerns. I often run across protest." E38) This brief exchange exposed the difference between two political systems and the great disparity between two spirits and two beliefs. E39) Democracy is founded upon equality between leaders and citizens, respect for both supporters and opponents, and peaceful coexistence among the winners and losers. E40) On the contrary, dictatorships are established by class discrimination, power struggles, and the purging of opponents. E41) Only before God can mankind be truly equal. In His sight, all have sinned and fallen short of His glory. And yet, we are all His children, dearly loved and forgiven by Him. E42) In 1975, ten months before his death, Mao Zedong told American diplomat, Henry Kissinger, "I know God does not like us, because I am contentious and a communist." E43) Where do today's 1.3 billions Chinese place their faith? In Confucius? Marx? No--in money, power, pleasure, and pursuit of personal gain. E44) Marxism rejects God and focuses on the material world. This system breeds ruthless competition without eternal consequences. How does one maintain integrity, humility, and Cont. E44)E44) holiness in such an ungodly, materialistic environment? E45) The Russian writer Dostoyevsky rightly said, "Without God every act is permissible." E46) Yu Yingshi Interview-----------------------------------------------------------Chinese people believe in science and many view religion as mere superstition. Cai Yuanpei, a scholar, proposed replacing religion with aesthetics and fine arts. I believe he only had a limited understanding of religion, not facing the deeper issues of life and death, realities no one can escape regardless of wealth or scientific advancement. E47) Wealth, science, and law cannot usurp the role of religion to save souls or teach morality. E48) As the economy booms, China's religious crisis becomes increasingly critical. Souls are being lost and morals declining. E49) The nation's economy was once disrupted by the Cultural Revolution but now economic development corrupts the hearts of men. It's hard to tell what has harmed China more. E50) In spite of her problems, God's light still shines on China. 1986 was the Year of World Peace and a beautiful song called 'Let the World be Filled With Love' became very popular.The song - E51) Round and round so goes the sun,As it's been so from day one.The boundless love in the universe,Our hearts' desires in it immerse:We wish that day would ensueCont.E51) SongE51) When the sea stains the desert blue.Ah, years come and go,Yesterday we have passed through . . . E52) The song soon vanished from stage and radio. The reason for its disappearance is obvious.(June 4 suppression; ancient battles) E53) In these there is no boundless love and no forgiveness. In these only victory counts, only advantage matters. Malicious scheme is counted as wisdom, and strife is taken as glory. E54) (song) …set off the new upsurge of the Cultural Revolution! Resolutely overthrow the Chinese Khrushchev and tread hard on him with your foot! E55) In these there is no repentance and no self-reproof. All wrongdoings are someone else's fault. Failures are transformed into hatred for others. E56) Nevertheless, the Word is divine, and this is still the Land of God. Listen, it is truly the gospel of peace and love arriving, as though from the ancient of days, yet like a dream of tomorrow. E57) The song -Here is God's presence; here is God's word.Here flows the anointment of the Holy Spirit,Here is a different world.How good and wonderful it isWhen brothers live in unityAs if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.Here is love, here is peace.Here is light, here is life.For here the Lord bestows all his blessings.Cont. E57) The song E57) If you want to have it,You will find it in Jesus Christ. E58) Over the years many humble people have blazed new paths of life for China with repentance, prayer and solemn dedication. E59) Fifty years ago there were just over a million Christians in China. Today they number tens of millions. E60) And their numbers continue to grow, not in favorable conditions but under persecution. Not in laughter but in tears. Not by strength but by meekness. Not in churches but in dungeons. E61) And wherever they are, there is love. Boundless love and forgiveness. Repentance and new life. E62) Overseas Chinese students fill churches, fellowships, Bible study groups, and evangelical meetings. After thousands of years of being quenched, modern China finally thirsts for truth! E63) In the twenty-first century, Shen Zhou is destined to once again be called the Land of God!